Grand Rapids, MI. -- Tonight's match features the 20^th ranked Raiders and the Cougars of Kalamazoo Valley Community College.  The Raiders have won 13 of the last 15 matches against the Cougars, with one loss being last year on the Raiders home court… a match that is certainly not forgotten by the coaches and sophomore class.  After that loss, the Raiders racked off 15 straight wins last year… Earlier this year, the Raiders got the best of the Cougars in a 3-1 win at KVCC.  Let's take a closer look at both teams.
 
KVCC – The visitors come into tonight's match with a 12-7 overall record and 4-5 in the conference.  They have won 4 of their last 5 with the lone loss coming to 2^nd ranked Owens CC.  The Cougars are led by Sophomore Outside, Jamie Lioy, who has 195 kills, 40 aces and 170 digs.  Sophomore Outside, Shelby Mannes (153 points) and Freshman Middle, Gabriella Iagnocco (171 points) are the Cougars next best scorers. Defensively, Hannah Gehrke, leads the team with 215 digs, while their Freshman setter, Haley Rock, leads the team with 516 assists. In the first meeting against GRCC this year, Lioy and Mannes combined for 24 kills and 3 aces.
 
Grand Rapids CC – The 20^th ranked Raiders (16-5 overall/11-0 in conference) have won 11 of their last 12 and are looking for their 20^th straight conference victory tonight.  Against the Cougars earlier this year the team's leading attacker, Lauren Wieber, racked off 21 kills in the win.  Freshman Middle,Emily Farwell, contributed with 7 kills, 6 blocks and an ace.  For the season, Wieber still leads the team in kills with 234, but fellow Captain, Rylee Storms, leads the team with 264.5 points (225 kills-14 aces-47 blocks).  Freshmen Toryanna DeYoung and Olivia Reamsboth are nearing the 100 mark for kills while Storms needs just 5 more digs to hit the 100 mark.  Freshman Setter, Lauren Helsen, has made her presence felt and after just over a week of playing she almost has 100 assists and has 14 aces!
 
The Raiders, who have won 95% of their home matches under coach Chip Will, will be looking to stay in front of Muskegon (just one match behind) for first place in the conference.  A win for the Cougars would be their 5^th in six matches and keep them in contention for a regional bid.
 
The Raiders next game will be at home vs. Glen Oaks at 6:30PM on Tuesday, October 11^th.